Precautions to take when selling a bike

Don't trust any buyer!

Show the bike somewhere other than your house

Have a friend with you.

When the method of payment is decided, get all the information you can about the buyer. Take photos of them, their licence, the car they arrived in, their friends, etc. It's in YOUR best interest.

Don't accept any cheque unless on the basis that the buyer does not get the bike until the funds are cleared. Similarly for deposits to your account (which normally take 24 hours). Cash is better.

Note on direct credit's to your account: A lot of money laundering is happening and there is the potential that money credited to your account may be proceeds from illegal activity. If that is the case you may be ordered to refund the monies. And that can happen even if you have been paid cash.

The only time you may have the assurance of the bank that is accepting the deposit is if the bank accepts the cheque/cash on your behalf as legitimate even if they later find it is not. But don't take my word on this. Get confirmation from the bank.

Precautions to take when buying a bike

Get the VIN, Rego and Engine number - then check on both REVS and here.

Ask for all documentation incuding rego papers, insurance/CTP, sale receipts, etc.

Here's what some people in DirtBikeWorld.net.au have suggested...

• "I also never let them test ride it. If they want to to take it and ride it I get the cash first then if they find something they don't like, bring it back and I'll hand back the cash."
• "Don't sell it from your house, I always meet them at a local servo and take a mate with me. Always!"
• "Leave after them so they can't follow you."
• "If someone insists on a test ride make sure you only have a very small amount of fuel in it, just enough for 200mts or so. "
• "Get a photocopy of the buyers drivers licence, or some other photo ID. If they can't provide it you can be pretty sure they are hiding something."
• "Don't hand the bike over until the money is cleared funds in your account and once someone has come over to look at the bike, have it stored at a friends/neighbours house, many crims use the Trading Post etc to case the product and the security."
• "Better still dont accept cheques at all. A bit hard perhaps but if someone wants your bike they would hopefully understand and provide a more sure payment method."
• "I accept all 3 methods of payment Cash, Cash & Cash."
• "It's the ONLY way. Simple they ask is bank cheque ok I say no, I'll meet ya at the bank with the bike,ya get the cash give it to me I count it and hand the bike
  over. I dont trust a buyer."
• "Defintelty dont accept the part cash part cheque payment idea."
• "Forgot to say money orders have always been sweet with me if payment is sent to you, just cash them first at post office before departing with your former love. M/O only come in $1000 a pop though but only cost a couple of dollars each to buy and nothing to cash at any post office."
• "If someone is interested in a bike get their details on deposit and confirm they are who they say they are. Also when selling only put mobile number and call them back on landline with ID before you go further. If they dont want to play then they are of no value."
• "ID/ Driv Lic details etc. If someone is interested in a bike get their details on deposit and confirm they are who they say they are."
• "Ask for his licence and his friends licence he won't expect that. No id's no sale. Your bike your rules. Write done any rego numbers and make model of the car they came in. If he walked there he is not walking home."
• "When I sold my 2001 WR 250 I let them see my guard dog on a chain. He wanted to test ride the bike so I asked for his licence and held on to it until we made the sale and I had counted the cash. It wasn't till he had the bike on his car that I gave his licence back."